Miami Dolphins defensive end Cameron Wake (91) reacts as he enters the field during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sun., Dec. 11, 2016, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Lynne SladkyAP

Miami Dolphins defensive end Cameron Wake (91) reacts as he enters the field during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sun., Dec. 11, 2016, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Lynne SladkyAP

Cameron Wake, Miami Dolphins DE, is impressed with the performance of the younger players in the team's first preseason game and also says it feels good hitting another color uniform.

Charles Trainor Jr.ctrainor@miamiherald.com

Sadly, Raekwon McMillan, Miami’s second-round draft pick, is out for the season with a knee injury. He would have been a factor.

“I think those guys will help, but also being able to key in on your responsibility over the last six weeks or 12 weeks or however long you want to consider it to be,” defensive end Cameron Wake said. “Those are the things that are going to make you or break you. It’s put up or shut up.”

Wake, now entering his ninth season, has been on really good run defense and really bad run defenses.

He’s been on teams with a ton of talent. And he’s been on teams that have been limited.

“It’s always on paper, on paper, on paper,” Wake said. “On paper has never won a football game. It’s always the players, it’s always the plays. Until you’re out there with live bullets, all of that, OTAs and paper and who did what last year or the year before, really it doesn’t matter because they don’t care how many Pro Bowls you went to, they don’t care how many interceptions you had, they’re trying to beat you right now.

“Are you going to play today to the best of your ability and help the team win? And if you’re not, then you’re going to be on the bad side of things. Again, all the talent and all the coaching staff and all the facilities in the world aren’t going to win a game; you’ve got to go out there and do your job. That’s to be seen, but I am confident in my guys and I’m confident in this roster.”

Miami Dolphins Cameron Wake intercepts the ball in the second quarter as they play the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Dec. 17, 2016.

CHARLES TRAINOR JR ctrainor@miamiherald.com

Wake was asked: Is this the most talented roster you’ve been a part of?

“I guess it would probably one of the most experienced groups I’ve ever played with,” Wake said. “It’s definitely up there as far as talent level. I’m in here going through my years … they’re all kind of one big mush. It’s definitely up there, but I’ve been on some really talented teams and, obviously, we haven’t had success in the past.”

Wake rightly pointed out that last year was the first time he made the playoffs. But that didn’t necessarily make it the most talented Dolphins roster since 2009.

“It was the most successful,” Wake said. “Are those two correlated in football? Probably not the same as other sports as far as All-Star roster and winning the big show, but I think here, it’s team, not necessarily talent. Talent obviously helps, of course, but I think that team is going to get farther than a bunch of Pro Bowlers that aren’t together.”

Every year is unique. And no season has quite been like this one — which is remarkable, considering it hasn’t even started yet.

When the Dolphins kick off at 4:05 p.m. Sunday, they’ll become the last NFL team to play a game. Hurricane Irma ruined their opening week.

“It’s long overdue,” Wake said. “Anxious, excited. I’m actually looking forward to going out and seeing what we’re made of, really. We’ve done a lot of hard work in the offseason, and now it’s time to put it under the lights. I know I can speak for most of the guys that we’re excited and we’re ready.”